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Short or tall

The fine print: This thread has nothing to do with your height. If you do post your height in this thread, I will personally smite your rep into fiery oblivion.

I've been thinking: We can all tell when someone is tall or short, right? That's easy, you see a person, you can tell whether they are short or tall. But can you pinpoint at what exact height is the transition point? Is there even a transition point? (This really isn't about height, it applies to temperature, speed, most anything that you can gauge by hand)

I'm leaning towards an inherent randomness in how you gague a person's height. If you see a person that is
* very short, you're 100% likely to call them short
* sort of short, you're 75% likely to call them short
* average height, it's 50-50
* sort of tall, you're 75% likely to call them tall
* very tall, you're 100% likely to call them tall

Naturally, this breaks if they are not the only person around, if that's the case, you take your estimation of their height into account as well.

For men, I think being 6'4" is "Tall" no two ways about it. 6'2"-6'3" is the "transitional phase". For men, being 5'6" is "Short" with 5'7"-5'8" being borderline. For women, being 5'10" is "Tall" with 5'8"-5'9" being borderline. And finally, for women 5'2" is "Short" with 5'3"-5'4" being borderline.

I'm certainly not making any value judgements with these numbers, so don't hold them against me! I'm a very average 6'0" myself...

I'm roughly 5' 7". I also weigh about 130lbs, although I gained a few from binge eating, and I can fit into a size 2/3 in women's skirts. >:3 Would you like to know my bust size, or anything else like that, OP?

I'm roughly 5' 7". I also weigh about 130lbs, although I gained a few from binge eating, and I can fit into a size 2/3 in women's skirts. >:3 Would you like to know my bust size, or anything else like that, OP?

I don't know who OP is, but you have my permission to tell us all your measurements. Enquiring minds want to know. And after all, anyone who quotes old Billy Idol songs in their signature probably needs to get some stuff off their chest... (j/K!)

One could go by their country's averages. Those about that height would be considered average, those above tall, and those below short.

However, much of it comes down to one's own height, I think. I know that being tall means I am more likely to classify someone who is actually of average height as being short. I know from being friends with short people (4'11'' crowd) that the same is often true for them. Someone who might be of average height looks tall to them. Does this mean someone at an average height would be naturally best equipped when it comes to telling short from tall? It would be an interesting experiment.

* very short, you're 100% likely to call them short
* sort of short, you're 75% likely to call them short
* average height, it's 50-50
* sort of tall, you're 75% likely to call them tall
* very tall, you're 100% likely to call them tall

Naturally, this breaks if they are not the only person around, if that's the case, you take your estimation of their height into account as well.

Ideas?

If there were other people around, say a tall person and an average-height person, would you be more likely to call the taller person tall or the average person short by comparison to the other? o.o Just a thought...

Anyway, since everyone seems to be posting their height anyways, I'm 5' 5'' so I'd be considered average for a teenage girl (I hope) and not considered short very often. I seem tall though since all my friends are like 5' 1"

anyway-'sort of short, you're 75% likely to call them short'---might be meh (5'2)

Remember now, being short is certainly not the end of the world, especially when you're a girl. My ex-wife was 5'0" and most of the girls I've dated were 5'4" or under. There are lots of guys out there who prefer short women, and unless you're thinking about becoming a fashion model or joining the Marines, it really doesn't matter how tall you are...

Remember now, being short is certainly not the end of the world, especially when you're a girl. My ex-wife was 5'0" and most of the girls I've dated were 5'4" or under. There are lots of guys out there who prefer short women, and unless you're thinking about becoming a fashion model or joining the Marines, it really doesn't matter how tall you are...

M-hm, I've found that bascially no guys want to date a girl who is taller than them or can look at them at eye level. Which is why I kinda wish I was shorter.
Twilightdreams, its a good thing to be short when you're a girl, be short and proud. xD

For men, I think being 6'4" is "Tall" no two ways about it. 6'2"-6'3" is the "transitional phase". For men, being 5'6" is "Short" with 5'7"-5'8" being borderline. For women, being 5'10" is "Tall" with 5'8"-5'9" being borderline. And finally, for women 5'2" is "Short" with 5'3"-5'4" being borderline.

I'm certainly not making any value judgements with these numbers, so don't hold them against me! I'm a very average 6'0" myself...

those are some pretty good estimates but i have an aunt who's 6' tall(no, you're not seeing things), and i had a friend who was not only a guy but was 13 when i 1st met him and he was only 4'8" and it wasn't until he was 15 that he even got to be 5'2". as for myself i'm currently 6'3" but i'm only 17 and because i entered puberty at about the age of 9-10 one would think i would've stopped growing by now but they would be wrong. the reason being: i only just became 6'3" in september 2007 i was only 6'2" but by christmas i was 6'3" and i'm now roughly 6'3" and 1/4 so i'm still growing. plus i have an uncle whose 6'7", my grandpa is 6'6" and one of my grandmas is even 5'9" at the age of 70 plus my aunt is about the same height if not 5'10"

M-hm, I've found that bascially no guys want to date a girl who is taller than them or can look at them at eye level. Which is why I kinda wish I was shorter.
Twilightdreams, its a good thing to be short when you're a girl, be short and proud. xD

How so?

I know I wouldn't object to that at least, and I am sure other guys would feel the same way about it.

Plus it is awkward too if the girl is too short relative to the guy, it complicates matters like hugging and dancing because the arm positions have to change to do it right.

In any case, being short runs in my family. I'm probably the first tall one in several generations, at 6' 0"

Here at the place where our love reached it's climax, I leave behind a broken heart torn to pieces by fate.

I'm with Fabala on this one. It's probably more how the other person is relative to your own height. If you know you're tall, then everyone that's as tall as you or taller you call tall, people who reach your shoulders as normal and everyone else short. With probably 5 inches allowance, give or take. Maybe.

I'm with Fabala on this one. It's probably more how the other person is relative to your own height. If you know you're tall, then everyone that's as tall as you or taller you call tall, people who reach your shoulders as normal and everyone else short. With probably 5 inches allowance, give or take. Maybe.

that is a very excellent point. i've always thought that way myself. i think everyone has made good points on this thread but this makes the most sense to me. well only because it's the easiest to understand lol.

Everyone has their own opinion on the transition point for being short or tall.

I define as person as short or tall usually when comparing them with my own height. I'm somewhere between 5'5" and 5'7" so I see people who're less than 5'2" as short and people who're over 5'10" as tall. That's just me though. No offense to anyone of course. ^^;

As far as temperature goes, I think that depends on what kind of temperatures you are used to and what temperatures are comfortable to you. Also, it probably depends on your location too.

those are some pretty good estimates but i have an aunt who's 6' tall(no, you're not seeing things)

I'm female and 6 feet tall myself (possibly a smidge more, but I round down). Have been since I was about 15. It isn't unheard of, and there are lots of women who are much taller (I had a 6'4'' female teacher once...same height as my father). I wouldn't even classify it in the "very tall" category. But, depending on where a person lived, I suppose it could be.

I'm female and 6 feet tall myself (possibly a smidge more, but I round down). Have been since I was about 15. It isn't unheard of, and there are lots of women who are much taller (I had a 6'4'' female teacher once...same height as my father). I wouldn't even classify it in the "very tall" category. But, depending on where a person lived, I suppose it could be.

yeah i guess it does depend on where ya live. in my home town i'm considered to be "very tall" even though i'm not even 6'5" yet but that's still very tall to be regardless of gender.

I don't like really tall people. I hate looking up at them. I WANT TO BE TALLER, DAGNABBIT!

Originally Posted by Fabala

I'm female and 6 feet tall myself (possibly a smidge more, but I round down). Have been since I was about 15. It isn't unheard of, and there are lots of women who are much taller (I had a 6'4'' female teacher once...same height as my father). I wouldn't even classify it in the "very tall" category. But, depending on where a person lived, I suppose it could be.

I wouldn't classify it as "very tall", either.

Try more like the "redonkulously gigantic and to be feared from size alone" category.

I find the physical appearance judges whether someone is viewed as short or tall. For example - if someone is the same height or even slightly taller than me, but looks like a kid, I would classify them as being short. I usually get surprised when I actually compare.